South Korea Archives - Gizmochina

Samsung Could Face its First Worker Strike in Over 55 Years

Anubhav — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 16:02:27 +0000

South Korea‘s tech giant Samsung Electronics and its labor unions are on the precipice of a historic clash as wage negotiations have reached a deadlock. If a resolution cannot be reached, the company could face its first-ever worker strike.

The dispute is because of the two parties’ proposed salary increases

The core of the dispute lies in the vast discrepancies between the two parties’ proposed salary increases. While the union demands a substantial raise, Samsung’s proposed plan falls significantly short of these expectations.

According to reports, the National Samsung Electronics Union rejected Samsung’s initial 2.5% wage increase offer at the first mediation meeting in February. Although Samsung revised the offer to a 2.8% increase, including additional benefits like extended leave and healthcare options, it remains far below the union’s desired 8.1% raise.

This impasse has triggered the threat of a strike, potentially marking a defining moment in the union’s 55-year history. While the union secured the right to strike in 2022, it ultimately opted against taking action. However, the current situation poses a much greater risk of a walkout.

The potential strike has raised concerns about its impact on Samsung’s operations and the broader South Korean economy. The company is a crucial player in the global tech industry, and a prolonged disruption could have significant ramifications.

The upcoming second round of mediation on March 8th will be critical in determining the outcome of this labor dispute. Both parties face pressure to find a compromise that addresses the union’s concerns while safeguarding the company’s sustainability. The entire situation is being closely watched, as it could set a precedent for future labor relations in South Korea.

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Samsung Galaxy S22 Series Receiving Stable One UI 6.0 Update in South Korea

Simranpal Singh — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 15:25:30 +0000

Following the estimated One UI 6.0 timeline revealed a week ago for South Korea, Samsung is finally pushing a stable update for the Galaxy S22 in the country. Both the One UI 6.0 beta and non-beta units are receiving the update. Bundling massive new changes and all the luxuries of Android 14, One UI 6.0 is surely going to uplift the user experience of the Galaxy S22.

Must See: One UI 6 Beta 2 is here for Samsung Galaxy S22, Galaxy A34, and Galaxy A53

The Galaxy S22 Ultra is receiving build versions S908NKSU3DWKA/ S908NOKR3DWKA/ S908NKSU3DWK5 in South Korea. The update weighs around 3.1GB for non-beta users and 343MB for beta users. The update will soon reach other variants of the smartphone series in the country.

We expect the same update to reach the masses in the coming few days. Moreover, it is highly likely that the stable One UI 6.0 update will hit the shores of other countries in the coming few weeks.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra users can manually check for the update by heading to System Settings > Software Update > Software Update and Install > Download Now.

One UI 6.0 Features

There are several new changes including a whole new Quick Panel with a new button layout, Quick Access brightness control, and Notification improvements. The Lock Screen now offers more customization options, like repositing the clock. A whole new font is part of OneUI 6, which will give the whole system a new and modern look.

There have been significant improvements in the Samsung apps, such as the Samsung Keyboard, Samsung Camera, Samsung Weather, and Gallery.

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Tesla Expands Global Reach & Opens Superchargers in South Korea to All EVs

Anubhav — Sat, 25 Nov 2023 05:27:51 +0000

Tesla‘s recent expansion of its Non-Tesla Supercharger Pilot program to South Korea marks a huge step in the electric vehicle (EV) industry. This move opens about half of its Supercharger sites in the country, totalling around 80 locations, to other EVs. This development is noteworthy because South Korea’s EV market predominantly uses the CCS1 connector for DC fast charging, different from Tesla’s proprietary NACS connector used in the U.S. and Canada.

Tesla’s pilot program includes over 20 countries across NA, Europe and Asia Pacific

To accommodate this, Tesla has equipped its charging stations with built-in CCS1 adapters, known as Magic Docks. This adaptation signifies Tesla’s commitment to universal charging solutions, transcending brand exclusivity. The installation of the 1,000th charger in Incheon-Yeonsu highlights the rapid expansion of Tesla’s charging infrastructure in South Korea.

The broader implications of this move are significant. It raises questions about the future of charging standards in South Korea, particularly whether local manufacturers like the Hyundai Motor Group will continue with CCS1 or shift towards Tesla’s NACS. Additionally, it’s interesting to note Tesla’s growing role as an EV charging provider for other networks, with recent agreements to supply charging technology to BP Pulse in the U.S. and EG Group in Europe.

This expansion isn’t just limited to South Korea; Tesla’s pilot program now includes over 20 countries across North America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The universal adoption of Tesla’s charging technology, combined with its efforts to adapt to local standards like CCS1 in South Korea and GB/T in China, indicates a strategic move towards a more interconnected and accessible global EV charging network.

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YouTube Ventures into Live E-commerce with Launch of Shopping Channel in South Korea

Anubhav — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 06:27:15 +0000

In an effort to tap into the lucrative livestreaming e-commerce market, YouTube is set to launch its first official shopping channel in South Korea on June 30. The move comes as YouTube seeks to diversify its revenue streams and counter the impact of reduced ad spending and competition from emerging platforms like TikTok.

The Share Prices of YouTube shopping competitors in South Korea are being affected

South Korea, known for its thriving livestreaming e-commerce market led by tech giant Naver, presents an ideal test market for YouTube’s entry into this sector. The global launch of the shopping channel in South Korea will serve as a pilot project, with plans to potentially extend its operation beyond the initially planned 90 days.

The shopping channel, primarily conducted in Korean, will feature over 30 prominent brands, including Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, Baskin-Robbins, Dunkin’ Donuts, Cosme, and Puma. These brands will engage in live streaming sessions to showcase their products and interact directly with consumers, offering a unique (and ultra-modern) shopping experience.

Google Chief Business Officer Philipp Schindler highlighted the significance of this venture, stating that enabling people to shop seamlessly from their favorite creators, brands, and content holds immense potential. With YouTube’s vast user base and reach, the shopping channel has the potential to revolutionize the way people discover and purchase products.

Following the announcement, shares in Naver experienced a 4 per cent decline, while Lotte Shopping, a prominent retailer, witnessed a 3.3 per cent decrease. This demonstrates the impact of YouTube’s entry into the market and the potential disruption it poses to existing players.

Industry analysts at Jingbo Securities predict substantial growth in South Korea‘s live e-commerce market, with projections estimating a rise from 2.8 trillion won (~$2.1 billion) in 2021 to 10 trillion won (~$7.7 billion) in the near future. Currently, Naver dominates approximately 60 percent of the market share, but YouTube’s entrance is expected to promote competition and reshape the industry landscape.

As YouTube ventures into live e-commerce with its innovative shopping channel, it remains to be seen how this new endeavour will shape the future of online shopping in South Korea and potentially expand globally. The fusion of entertainment and commerce could redefine the consumer experience and open up new avenues for brands and creators to connect with their audiences.

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China-South Korea Technology Trade Declines in May, thanks to the Ongoing US-Chian Tech War

Joane — Sat, 17 Jun 2023 04:17:21 +0000

Last month, South Korea witnessed a significant slump in its tech trade with China. According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, semiconductor shipments from South Korea to China experienced a sharp decline of 35.7 percent compared to the previous year.

Notably, the memory chip trade took the hardest hit, plunging by 53.1 percent, primarily due to sluggish demand in China. This decline comes amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions, which have had a profound impact on the chip supply chain landscape in Asia.

South Korea, a prominent player in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector, faced a considerable setback in its exports to mainland China and Hong Kong. The ICT exports, encompassing semiconductors, displays, and smartphones, witnessed a staggering drop of over 30 percent in May compared to the same period last year.

These figures underscore the challenges faced by the tech trade between South Korea and China, with ramifications for both countries. The geopolitical tensions have prompted a reassessment of supply chain dynamics in the region, leading to disruptions in the flow of crucial technology components. The decline in the tech trade, especially in semiconductors, between China and South Korea may be indicative of the impact on China’s position within the global chip supply chain.

Korean exports, encompassing items like chips, displays, and refined oil, are often regarded as key indicators of international trade trends due to their significant role within global supply chains. The latest data suggests a partial rebound in demand for Korean goods; however, overall exports continue to exhibit weakness, primarily attributed to an accumulation of chip inventories and China’s lackluster economic growth.

China- South Korea Trade Relations:

China and South Korea’s trade relations are highly impacted by the US- China Tech War. South Korea’s semiconductor industry, led by Samsung Electronics and LG, is crucial for U.S. export control efforts against China. With China as its primary trading partner since 2003, accounting for over 60% of chip exports, and a trade-dependent economy, South Korea’s cooperation holds significant importance. The United States represents a mere 7.7% of its chip exports, amplifying the stakes for South Korea.

In April 2023, a year-on-year analysis reveals a slight increase in China’s exports by $230 million (1.73%) from $13.3 billion to $13.6 billion between April 2022 and April 2023. However, imports from South Korea experienced a significant decline of $4.3 billion (-26%) from $16.5 billion to $12.2 billion during the same period.

Amidst US export restrictions on advanced semiconductors and chip-making equipment, China has intensified its efforts to enhance self-sufficiency in legacy chips used in automobiles and household appliances. Consequently, the reduced information and communications technology (ICT) trade with South Korea highlights China’s focus on domestic production and self-reliance.

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South Korea Surpasses China in Chip Spend, Transforming the Global Semiconductor Landscape

Oğuz Çakır — Mon, 27 Mar 2023 10:49:26 +0000

South Korea is set to overtake China in spending on advanced chipmaking equipment in 2024, a significant shift signaling the impact of US export controls on the global semiconductor supply chain. Data from SEMI, a US-based global semiconductor association, reveals that South Korea’s investment in fab equipment will likely increase by 41.5% to $21 billion, while China’s spending will only grow by 2% to $16.6 billion. Here are the details…

South Korea beating China in chip spend to reshape global semiconductor supply chain

South Korea is set to overtake China in spending on advanced chipmaking equipment in 2024,.This shift highlights China’s ongoing struggle to secure essential machinery for improving its chips. The US-imposed restrictions have made it increasingly difficult for China to access equipment from leading manufacturers like ASML Holding NV of the Netherlands. With Dutch and Japanese governments also joining the US in imposing export restrictions, advanced chips and equipment from companies such as Nvidia Corp. and Tokyo Electron Ltd. are now largely inaccessible to Chinese buyers.

Source: Bloomberg

As a result, US chipmaking equipment suppliers, including Applied Materials Inc., Lam Research Corp., and KLA Corp., are projected to lose billions in sales this year due to the US restrictions on China. Semiconductor foundries are crucial in the race for economic and political dominance, as they manufacture cutting-edge chips required for artificial intelligence, self-driving vehicles, and other advanced technologies. For example, OpenAI’s ChatGPT was created by assembling tens of thousands of Nvidia’s A100 chips, which are banned for sale in China, into a functional supercomputer.

Recognizing the importance of foundries and the increasing concerns from the US, South Korea is now focusing on building foundries within its own borders. Earlier this month, President Yoon Suk Yeol announced plans to invest in a chipmaking cluster south of Seoul, with Samsung Electronics Co. committing to invest 300 trillion won ($230 billion) over the next two decades. Furthermore, Samsung is constructing a semiconductor plant in Texas to expand its foundry business, particularly in the US market.

Taiwan, home to the world’s largest contract chipmaker, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., is expected to maintain its global lead in fab equipment spending. SEMI predicts that fab equipment spending in Japan will rise to $7 billion in 2024, following the recent lifting of export curbs to South Korea as diplomatic ties and tech supply chains were restored between the two US allies.

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US May Set a Cap on South Korean Semiconductors Made in China

Joane — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 16:20:23 +0000

The United States is planning to limit the number of advanced chips made by South Korean companies in China. This move will likely affect South Korean tech giants like Samsung and SK Hynix who have significant investments in China.

According to a Reuters report, The United States Commerce Department undersecretary for Industry and Security, Alan Estevez said that Washington will likely add a cap to the number of chips that South Korean companies can make in China. Estevez who supervises the Chinese trade restrictions made this comment during an event hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, in Washington.

source: Samsung

South Korea’s Investment in Semiconductor Foundries in China:

South Korea is a world leader in memory chip production with a total market value of $70 billion. The South Korean semiconductor economy is mainly driven by two of the world’s largest semiconductor producers, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix who have invested billions of dollars in key manufacturing facilities in China.

Samsung Electronics has two main production facilities in China, one for NAND (flash memory) which is located in Xi’an, and another for DRAM ( Dynamic Random Access Memory) which is located in Suzhou. Apart from these facilities, Samsung has also established three advanced R&D centers in China, which is more than it has in its home country. The Samsung Xi’an factory accounts for 42.5% of its total NAND production and 15.3% of its global capacity. It is also the tech giant’s largest overseas investment with an initial expenditure of $7 billion for the production facility.

When it comes to SK Hynix, though the company has no R&D centers in China, it has built its DRAM and NAND memory chip production facilities in Wuxi, Chongqing, and Dalian. The factory at Wuxi produces more than 40% of the company’s DRAM chips. Apart from these two tech companies, there are many other South Korean fabless semiconductor firms and startups that have established their base in China.

Why is South Korea in a Dilemma?

Right now, China is the largest market for South Korean semiconductor companies. According to data from the Korea International Trade Association, mainland China and Hong Kong account for about 60% of the country’s semiconductor exports. However, the ongoing US-China trade war has put South Korea in a difficult position.

If a chip production cap is put on South Korean companies in China, then the companies will face severe losses and the South Korean economy will take a downturn. South Korea’s Minister of Industry said that to date there have been no official discussions between South Korea and the United States for setting a limit on the technology and production levels.

He further added that both South Korea and the US have agreed to not let the sanctions and policies affect the current and future investments of Korean companies in China. Last year in October, both Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix received a one-year reprieve from US export restrictions. The country is now planning to enter into a discussion with the US to extend the reprieve.

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South Korea Announces Plans for 6G Network Service Launch in 2028

Oğuz Çakır — Mon, 20 Feb 2023 22:15:21 +0000

The deployment of 5G infrastructure is underway wor5G infrastructure works are continuing at full speed almost all over the world. However, the number of people who can use this modern connection technology today is very limited. While 5G is available in a few pilot test areas, it is not yet widely available in many regions. Nevertheless, in developed countries such as South Korea, which is already one of the world’s leading technology hubs, 5G is more widely available. In fact, South Korea has recently announced that it plans to launch its 6G network. Here are the details…

South Korea plans to launch 6G network service in 2028

South Korea has recently announced that it plans to launch its 6G network service in 2028, two years ahead of schedule, as it seeks to secure an early advantage in the future wireless frequencies. The country’s Ministry of Science and ICT announced the K-Network 2030 plan, which aims to develop world-class 6G technologies, innovate software-based next-generation mobile networks, and strengthen the network supply chain.

The advanced plan also aims to encourage local companies to produce materials, parts, and equipment for 6G technology in the country, and to develop an open RAN that is compatible with any mobile device and enables mobile carriers and enterprises to offer flexible services. Additionally, the ministry is conducting a feasibility study for a research and development project on core 6G technologies worth KRW 625.3 billion ($481.7 million).

South Korea’s efforts to lead in the development of 6G technology come as the country seeks to maintain its leading position in the global competition for future network infrastructure. As the demand for higher speeds and lower latency in wireless communications continues to rise, the country is looking to retain its competitive edge following the 5G network race. According to the German analysis firm IPlytics, South Korea accounted for 25.9 percent of the number of 5G patents last year, closely following the market leader China with 26.8 percent.

The advanced plan will also create new opportunities for local companies and researchers to participate in the development of 6G technology. By encouraging the production of materials, parts, and equipment for 6G technology in the country, the government hopes to create new jobs and promote economic growth. The open RAN system will also enable mobile carriers and enterprises to offer flexible services, which could create new business opportunities in the telecommunications sector.

With this move, the country hopes to secure an early lead in the next generation of wireless technology, as well as promote innovation and economic growth.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 to have eSIM support in South Korea

Jeet — Thu, 14 Jul 2022 04:23:17 +0000

Samsung recently enabled eSIM support for some of its current generation foldable smartphones in the US market but the feature isn’t available for every region. For instance, its home market of South Korea doesn’t have eSIM support.

That is about to change if the latest report is to be believed. A new report has claimed that the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the Samsung Galaxy Flip 4 smartphones will be the first to have eSIM support for the South Korean market.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 render by OnLeaks / Smartprix

Network operators in South Korea haven’t rolled out eSIM services over several factors, including concerns about SIM card sales, increasing subscriber churn, and declining average revenue per subscriber.

The government has been negotiating with the telecom operators since last year to introduce support for eSIM technology and now it appears that the carriers are in the final stage of developing eSIM support for cellular connectivity.

eSIM eliminates the need to use a physical SIM card to get cellular connectivity and is also easy to switch between carriers. The service can be activated remotely by installing eSIM, making some operators worry about subscriber churn because of ease.

Samsung’s foldable smartphones already have eSIM support enabled in the regions where the technology is available and the company will continue to offer it on the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 smartphones.

Apple opens new store in South Korea, offers special wallpaper for iPhone, iPad, & Mac

Sean — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 05:26:46 +0000

Earlier this week, Apple announced that it will soon be opening its largest retail store in South Korea. The new store will be situated in the Myeongdong neighborhood of Seoul, which is the capital of the country.

The Apple Myeongdong will be hosting its grand opening on next Saturday (9th April 2022). Although for those interested in attending this event, you will have to get a reservation because of the ongoing global pandemic. You can get a reservation by visiting the Cupertino based giant’s official South Korean website, with booking starting on April 7. Furthermore, the brand is also celebrating the grand opening by offering a new special wallpaper as well.

For the celebration, the iPhone maker shared a short video and is offering a special wallpaper to download for its iPhone, iPad, and Mac products. In one of the latest issues of the “Tabletops” newsletter about Apple retail, Michael Steeber stated that the new video and special wallpaper are inspired by a traditional South Korean art style that is known as “chaekgeori.”

Notably, the in person Today event at Apple sessions will be hosted at the Myeongdong store. This event will have all the safety measures as well, including mandatory face masks, physical distancing, and temperature checks. The session will also allow customers to learn skills related to photography, art, design, video, coding, music, and more using Apple products and accessories like the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Pencil. This marks the 518th Apple retail store that the company operates across the globe and the third in the region.

South Korea approves rules against Google & Apple app stores

Sean — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 13:31:38 +0000

South Korea has approved certain rules that will allow the government to ban app stores by Apple and Google from forcing software developers to use their payments systems.

For those unaware, the Cupertino and Search Engine giant have been facing scrutiny across the globe over their app stores. At the moment, both brands hold a duopoly in the market with most smartphone users using either of the two stores for apps. However, the two companies also charge take a share from any transaction made within apps from developers and did not allow for third party payment methods. Thus, telecom regulators in nations like South Korea have been targeting the Google Play Store and iOS App Store.

South Korea has recently passed a new law, an amendment to the Telecommunication Business Act, which will help remove the dominance held by Apple and Google. Both firms typically charge 30 percent on developers, but the new rules that are called enforcement ordinance will help developers bypass this charge. The new rule will be put into effect starting from March 15 and bars “the act of forcing a specific payment method to a provider of mobile content.”

Han Sang-hyuk, chairman of Korea Communications Commission (KCC) added that “In order to prevent indirect regulatory avoidance, prohibited acts’ types and standards have been established as tightly knit as possible within the scope delegated by the law.” So now, any infractions may reach as high as 2 percent of an average annual revenue from related business practices, as per the new rules.

Samsung Smart Monitor M8 with 32-inch 4K UHD display officially goes on sale

Jeet — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 04:31:13 +0000

Earlier this year, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January, Samsung had announced three new monitors, including the Samsung Smart Monitor M8 which has a slim design and features for home and office usage.

Today, the Samsung Smart Monitor M8 officially goes on sale in South Korea for the price of 850,000 won, which is approximately $692. For one week, from 7th March to 14th March, it will be sold exclusively through Kakao Makers, and from 15th March, the product will be available to purchase from offline and online stores across the country.

The Samsung Smart Monitor M8 is just 11.4mm thick, making it significantly thinner than the previous models. It features a 32-inch 4K Ultra HD display that supports 99% sRGB color, 400 nits of brightness, and 1.07 billion colors.

Unlike other monitors, this one is a hybrid that can double up as a Smart TV. It is powered by the same Tizen platform and ships with an IR remote. Running the Tizen OS, it also doubles as a SmartThings Hub, providing full compatibility with Samsung’s IoT ecosystem.

It has a magnetic and moveable SlimFit camera that can be attached to the monitor and supports video chat apps like Google Duo. There’s also a Workspace feature which acts as a hub for work-related things and supports apps like Microsoft 365.

There’s a USB Type-C port with support for video and power delivery and supports 65W fast charging. The South Korean giant has also said that the users will be able to the Smart Monitor M8 to stream games and connect wireless controllers to it.

Tesla changes ad in South Korea following antitrust probe over its EV’s batteries

Sean — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 12:48:25 +0000

Tesla has recently made changes to an advertisement in South Korea. The ad was related to the driving range of its Model 3 electric vehicle. However, South Korean antitrust regulator apparently discovered that the company made exaggerated claims in the ad, which prompted it to make the changes.

For those unaware, the American automobile manufacturer had advertised the Model 3 sedan on its official South Korean website with a range of “more than” 528 kilometers. But now, the EV maker has changed the description to show that the vehicle “maximum range” of 528 kilometers on a single full charge. Earlier this week, the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) had sent a report to Tesla, in which it stated that the company had exaggerated the mileage of some of its models.

In other words, the report said that the Model 3 was in violation of the Act of Fair Labeling and Advertising. Furthermore, analysts also added that most electric vehicles would also see lose in driving range in cold weather as well. According to a commission official speaking to Reuters “The KFTC plans to give the automaker the opportunity to respond to our finding and then hold a general meeting to review and determine the extent to which the automaker has violated the law and decide the level of sanctions.”

So now, the South Korean website is in line with Tesla’s official US website, which reads “Go anywhere with “up to” 358 miles of estimated range on a single charge.” 358 miles equates to around 576 kilometers. Despite facing the antitrust probe, analysts believe that the company’s performance in the market would likely not be impacted by this.

South Korea step closer towards commercializing Air Taxis, tests new control system

Sean — Fri, 12 Nov 2021 12:49:04 +0000

Earlier this week, South Korea began testing a new system that will be used in controlling urban air mobility vehicles (UAM). These tests will determine whether the new mode of transport will be used for travel between major airports.

According to a Reuters report, the new air taxis could potentially cut travel time between major airports by two thirds in the capital city of Seoul. Back in 2020, the country had announced a roadmap that detailed the timeline for the commercialization of urban air travel by 2025. The local transport ministry also expects the service could reduce travel times for distances between 30 to 50 kilometers from an hour on road to just 20 minutes by air.

Transport Minister Noh Hyeong-ouk stated during the control system demonstration that “As UAM is expected to become one of the common means of transportation that citizens use in daily life, it is absolutely imperative that we test and try out UAM services in various environments.” The test had a pilot fly a two seat model built by Germany’s Volocopter at Seoul’s Gimpo Airport to test the controls and coordination. The UAM in qusetion was a VTOL (vertical take off and landings) based and featured helicopter like rotors.

Notably, this craft can also be piloted and even operate autonomously. Although, the ministry official stated that a pilot must man the craft to ensure safety of the passenger onboard, which would also aid in general public’s acceptance of the new mode of travel. Currently, local designers have also shown off a model of their own drone aircraft, with a full sized prototype model expected to begin test flights by 2022.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 PXG Golf Edition launched in South Korea

Sean — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 08:57:40 +0000

Samsung has just launched another new special edition of the Galaxy Watch 4. This time, the company has launched a new limited edition of the smartwatch for golfing fans in South Korea, dubbed the Galaxy Watch 4 PXG Golf Edition.

The new Galaxy Watch 4 PXG Golf Edition arrives as a collaboration with premium golf brand PXG. Previously, the company had also launched the Galaxy Watch 4 Golf Edition in its home country, and now, the South Korean tech giant has also launched the new PXG variant. Apart from the smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch 4 PXG Golf Edition comes bundled with a premium PXG leather wallet, PXG golf ball marker, two types of PXG exclusive straps, and 3 PXG watch faces.

Furthermore, this PXG leather wallet is made using 100 percent natural cowhide leather and goatskin lining. The PXG ball marker is made of stainless steel and has a PXG logo as well. The premium leather also offers a comfortable wearing experience alongside a premium design. Notably, the user can also switch out this strap with the bundled silicone strap that can be used during workout sessions. The smartwatch even arrives with a preloaded Smart Caddie app as well that can offer a smarter golf experience by providing an exact distance measurement feature paired with guides to more than 40,000 golf courses.

The PXG branded watch faces can be downloaded through the QR core printed on the bundled coupon. Samsung has launched the limited edition in two size variants, namely 40mm (silver) and 44mm (black). The 40mm version costs KRW 599,000 (roughly 505 US Dollars) while the 44mm version costs KRW 629,000 (roughly 530 US Dollars). It will be available for purchase starting from November 18 and buyer’s for those interested, you can check out Samsung’s official website for more details.

Google to start allowing third-party in-app payments in South Korea

Jeet — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 00:57:06 +0000

A few weeks ago, the South Korean government had passed an amendment to the country’s Telecommunications Business Act which now prohibits Google and Apple from forcing their own payment solutions on developers.

Now, to comply with the new law, Google has announced that it will allow developers to add an alternative in-app billing system in South Korea. Along with the developer’s chosen billion systems, the Google Play Store‘s billing system will also be available.

This new change will be applicable for both mobile as well as tablet users in South Korea. Users will be able to choose which payment or billing system to use for the in-app billing during the checkout process.

Google is also warning users that the alternative billing systems may not provide the same protections or features that the company’s own billing system offers. Currently, the tech giant’s billing system offers several payment options, including gift cards and Play Points along with the usual set of options.

The company has said that it will be sharing implementation details for developers in the coming weeks and months. While Google has not provided an exact timeline for this, it’s safe to assume that the alternative in-app billing system will go live next year in Korea.

Apple still doesn’t allow third-party payments for the app or in-app purchases and says that alternate payment options would increase financial risks for users. Last month, the company pushed back against the rule change, claiming that it didn’t need to change anything in its system.

Samsung One UI 4 beta testing program ends for the Galaxy S21 models

Jeet — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 06:24:14 +0000

Samsung had recently opened up the Beta program for its upcoming One UI 4 custom user interface based on the Android 12 operating system. While the program started a little late than expected, it moved at a rapid pace.

Now, the South Korean technology giant has announced that it has concluded testing of the One UI 4 Beta on the Galaxy S21 series smartphones, reports TizenHelp. The development comes after Samsung released a third beta update in its home country.

Making an announcement on the company’s community forums, Samsung revealed that it does not need any more participants for the program and is now gearing up to launch the “full version” or stable build of the One UI 4 soon.

The third beta update for One UI 4 is around 975MB in size and carries software version G998BXXU3ZUJG / G998BOXM3ZUJB / G998BXXU3ZUJB. As for the changes, it brings improved voice command recognition in the camera app and some bugs fixes. The company says that the update is based on the stable AOSP 12.0 codebase. It also bumps the Android security patch level to November 2021.

As of now, there’s no exact timeline known for the stable version rollout of the Android 12-based One UI 4 but it should be released in the next few weeks, before the end of this year. Do note that this is only for the Galaxy S21 series phones, followed by the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Flip 3 foldable smartphones.

Given that the third beta update appears to be rolling out in the company’s home market South Korea, it should not take long for it to be available in other regions where the beta is live, including the United States. Note that only the Galaxy S21 models are eligible for the beta, and none of our models appear to have received the update.

Apple TV 4K to launch alongside its TV+ service in South Korea on November 4

Sean — Mon, 25 Oct 2021 08:47:45 +0000

The Apple TV 4K set top box will launch in South Korea on 4th November 2021. The product is set to launch in the country along with its TV+ video streaming service.

The Cupertino based giant made the announcement earlier today (25th October 2021). In other words, the Apple TV 4K and TV+ service will be available in the country for the first time together. Furthermore, its TV+ service will be accessible through the company’s TV App, TV 4K, TV HD, and Apple One as well. Notably, the iPhone maker is also celebrating the launch of the product and service in the country with the premiere of its first South Korean original series, “Dr. Brain.”

Dr. Brain is a South Korean show that is based on the popular Korean webtoon of the same name. This show is direct and written by filmmaker Kim Jee-Woon, known for his works like “A Tale of Two Sisters” and “I Saw the Devil,” and stars Lee Sun-Kyun, but best known for “Parasite.” The plot of the show revolves around a brain scientist who seeks to find new technologies to access memory, using these tools after his family faces a mysterious accident.

Dr. Brain is just one of the several new Apple Original international dramas that are coming to the TV+ service. Other shows include, “Pachinko,” “Masters of the Air,” “Slow Horses,” “Shantaram,” “Echo 3,” “Acapulco,” and more. The TV+ service is launching in South Korea in partnership with a local internet service provider SK Broadband and is priced at 6,500 won (roughly 5.5 US Dollars) per month.

Apple could be required to pay $46 million in undeclared benefits in Korea

Jeet — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 22:26:18 +0000

Apple has been facing several lawsuits in different regions around the world and the issues just keep increasing for the technology firm. In the latest development, it is said that Apple has to pay up to $46 million South Korea on benefits that it failed to declare.

Based on the data from Korea Fair Trade Commission, a lawmaker has come to the conclusion that technology giant Apple needs to pay $46 million. This is related to an investigation that found Apple guilty of antitrust behaviors.

In 2016, the US-based giant was accused of anti-competitive practices in South Korea. Given the popularity of its smartphones, the mobile carriers had to sell them and taking unfair advantage of its position, Apple was dictating terms. It was accused of imposing three onerous conditions on local carriers:

Carriers had to buy minimum quantities of each model, dictated by Apple
Carriers had to share the cost of warranty repairs or replacements
Carriers had to pay to run Apple’s own TV ads for the iPhone

While Apple had settled the case by proposing a series of measures but the issue of dictating mobile carriers to pay for TV ads for the iPhones is coming to haunt the company.

Carriers had to pay the full cost of running iPhone ads on TV and they were only allowed to use Apple’s own ads. The carriers were permitted to only add their own logo to the final frame. This effectively gave free advertising to Apple, amounting to a taxable benefit that the company failed to declare.

It appears that Apple made local mobile carriers in Korea pay 20 to 30 billion won, for which Apple needs to pay 28.8 billion to 43.2 billion won in corporate taxes. But the total amount of corporate taxes the company should pay comes to 36.6 billion to 55 billion won when including additional taxes imposed for failing to report the corporate taxes.

The claim is from a minority party so it remains to be seen if anything comes out of it. But the timing is crucial as it comes at a time when Apple is under pressure in the country as Apple and Google are now required to allow developers to use third-party payment platforms in their app stores in Korea.

Apple, Google face scrutiny in South Korea over in-app payment rules

Sean — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 12:05:07 +0000

Google and Apple are facing scrutiny in South Korea over their in app payment rules. Both companies were criticized by the government in South Korea, which is considering a ban on their payment rules that could also potentially shake up their dominance in the industry.

According to a TechCrunch report, the Cupertino based and search engine giant are facing trouble in South Korea due to their established rules for how third party apps in their app stores charge for services. In the country, parliamentary committee passed a bill earlier this month to prevent both firms from charging software developer’s commissions on in app purchases. As of right now, this bill is the first of its kind in the world.

Furthermore, the final vote for this planned ban on Google and Apple payment rules by all members of the National Assembly, which was expected to be held in a plenary session on the same day, has been delayed at the moment. Media reports stated that the plenary session was postponed to August 30. If the new bill is adopted, South Korea will become the first nation that banned the global tech firms from charging third party developers on in app payments.

The bill has been called the “Anti-Google law” and was approved by the legislation and judiciary committee of the National Assembly to revise the Telecommunication Business Act. In a statement, Apple said that “the proposed Telecommunications Business Act will put users who purchase digital goods from other sources at risk of fraud, undermine their privacy protections, make it difficult to manage their purchases, and features like ‘Ask to Buy’ and Parental Controls will become less effective. We believe user trust in App Store purchases will decrease as a result of this proposal—leading to fewer opportunities for the over 482,000 registered developers in Korea who have earned more than KRW8.55 trillion to date with Apple.”

Samsung announces $205 billion investment plan to expand its business

Jeet — Wed, 25 Aug 2021 05:58:29 +0000

Samsung Group, one of the world’s largest companies, has unveiled a new expansion plan under which the South Korean tech giant is planning to spend around 240 trillion won, which is around $205 billion.

As a part of the plan, Samsung will be hiring about 40,000 people over the next three years as the company advances towards next-generation technologies. Its subsidiaries will be spending money on Research & Development as well as corporate acquisitions.

The company has revealed that it is setting aside 180 trillion won for its home country South Korea and aims to hire another 10,000 people over the period. It’s noteworthy that this new expansion plan includes expenditures previously outlines by Samsung.

The South Korean giant has planned to invest around $151 billion through 2030 to delve deeper into advanced chipmaking. The company is also expected to proceed aggressively as Lee Jae-yong has now been released from the prison on parole after being sentenced to jail earlier this year for bribery.

Samsung is now expected to have further development related to its semiconductor plant in the United States for which the company is spending about $17 billion. It is among the leading chipset maker in the world, competing against Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) after the withdrawal of Huawei from the market. It plans to go ahead with the long-term vision in terms of technology rather than the short-term goals.

Along with that, the South Korean giant is also looking to expand its biopharmaceutical business through its subsidiaries Samsung Biologics and Samsung Bioepisit. The group will build two new factories in addition to the three currently in operation with the aim of starting vaccine production.

LG confirmed to start selling Apple products in its stores in South Korea

Jeet — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 07:23:12 +0000

A few months ago, South Korea-based LG officially shut down its mobile phone business. Now, confirming the rumors (via ZDNet), the company has revealed that it will start selling Apple iPhones as well as other Apple products in its own stores in South Korea.

The selling of Apple’s products at LG Stores in South Korea is expected to being next month as the company’s exit from the smartphone business will be completed by the end of this month. LG currently has around 400 stores across the country.

LG was reportedly facing an issue with the smartphone reseller trade organization. In 2018, Samsung and LG had agreed to only sell their own smartphones at their respective stores in South Korea. Since LG has now stopped manufacturing its own phones, the trade organization has signed a new contract allowing LG to sell phones from other brands.

The company won’t be selling Mac devices or any of Apple’s PC-related products as LG is still making products in this category. Also, there will be no after-sales support, and buyers of Apple devices from the LG Best shops will have to seek customer support elsewhere.

This latest move by LG will increase competition for Samsung which practically had the entire South Korean smartphone market to itself after the exit of LG. In order to get the customers of LG, both Apple and Samsung started offering a new trade-in discount for purchasing their own smartphones.

A report from the market research from Counterpoint claims that Samsung had around 65 percent of the South Korean smartphone market share last year, while Apple held around 20 percent. LG, which is no longer in the business, had a 13 percent market share.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 pricing details leak online

Jeet — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 08:29:06 +0000

Samsung has taken the initiative of making foldable smartphones mainstream and the South Korean giant has been focusing on launching new foldable phones in the market. While most of the smartphone makers are yet to launch a foldable smartphone, Samsung is gearing up to launch the third generation.

The company has been working on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 smartphones and plenty of details about these two devices have already leaked. Now, a new report reveals the phone’s pricing in Samsung’s home market — South Korea.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3

The Galaxy Z Fold 3 is said to cost between KRW 1,900,000 and KRW 1,999,000 which is between $1,655 and $1,741. On the other hand, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 is likely to be priced between KRW 1,200,000 and KRW 1,280,000 which is roughly between $1,045 to $1,110.

This is in line with the previous report about the newer foldable smartphones from Samsung to cost 20 percent less compared to the previous generation models. For reference, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 costed KRW 2,398,000 ($2,088) in Korea while the Galaxy Z Flip started at KRW 1,650,000, about $1,435.

As we noted, Samsung is actively trying to push foldable smartphones and in line with that, the South Korean giant is also expected to have a trade-in offer, allowing users to exchange their old devices and upgrade to the new foldable phones, bringing down the cost of the new phones.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 was recently spotted on TENAA and MIIT, revealing that the phone will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset and pack a 4,500mAh battery. It will also feature two displays, including a large primary screen of 7.5-inch and an external display of 6.2-inch on the outer side. It is expected to have 25W fast charging support and run Android 11 with One UI custom user interface on top.

On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is rumored to have a 6.7-inch main Super AMOLED display with a 25:9 aspect ratio and a 1.9-inch cover screen. There will also be an under-display fingerprint sensor.

The phone is expected to have a flagship-grade chipset, coupled with 8GB of RAM and 256GB internal storage. It will feature a 10-megapixel front camera and a 12-megapixel + 12-megapixel dual rear camera system. The device will pack a 3,300mAh battery and have 15W charging support. To know for sure what the devices pack and how much they cost, we will have to wait for the official launch, which is likely to happen on 11th August.

Samsung Q2 2021 profit likely jumped 38% due to strong chip prices

Jeet — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 02:47:24 +0000

The South Korean technology giant Samsung Electronics likely saw a surge of 38 percent for the second quarter of this year, i.e. Q2 2021, thanks to the increased and strong pricing for the chipsets in the market.

Demand for consumer electronics spurred, leading to the high demand for chips, creating a global shortage, leading to price hikes. This, along with recovering investment in data centers has resulted in good operating profit for the firm.

The report coming from Reuters adds that the operating profit for the world’s biggest memory chip and smartphone maker likely jumped to 11.3 trillion won ($10 billion), according to a Refinitiv SmartEstimate drawn from 20 analysts.

Prices of DRAM chips, widely used in servers, mobile phones, and other computing devices, jumped 27 percent compared to the March quarter, while those of NAND flash chips that serve the data storage market rose 8.6 percent, according to research provider Trendforce.

Profit also improved at Samsung’s chip-contract manufacturing and logic chip design business, partly because operations at its storm-hit Texas factory returned to normal. The estimated chip division’s operating profit in April-June rose about 22% from the year-earlier period to about 6.6 trillion won.

However, Samsung’s smartphone shipments dropped to about 59 million in April-June from about 76 million in the first quarter, according to Shinyoung Investment & Securities. Reduced demand from India, hard hit by the pandemic during the quarter, as well as tight supply for some mobile processor chips may also have affected shipments.

The strong performance of Samsung is coming despite the company shipping fewer smartphones than in January-March. This underscores the stratospheric demand for chips that have depleted stockpiles and filled production capacity.

It is said that the result would be up 20 percent from the first quarter and mark Samsung’s highest operating income in the second quarter since 2018 as the revenue is likely to rise by 15.4 percent. Samsung is scheduled to announce preliminary second-quarter results on Wednesday, i.e. 7th July.

South Korea leads the globe in 5G download speeds, 10x faster than the US

Sean — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 13:12:02 +0000

South Korea is one of the few nations that have widely adopted 5G networking. But apart from just being one of the first, it is also the nation that is capable of offering the true capabilities of the newer and faster telecommunication generation.

According to a SpeedCheck report, the country is the number 1 in the world in terms of download speeds. The report added that the speeds in the region can reach up to 449 Mbps (5G median download speeds). This result was found as per tests conducted during the period of February and March 2021. On the other hand, the median 5G download speeds in the US only amounts to 43.4 Mbps, which is about ten times slower than their Korean carrier counterparts. Additionally, the US also has much lower 5G penetration at only 10 percent compared to South Korea’s 20 percent.

The high speeds, in turn, implies that people in South Korea are likely to have a better 5G experience with download times of big files, a more immersive VR/AR experience, and even while playing online video games. Notably, the runner up in the list for the region with the fastest 5G download speeds was Taiwan, which only managed to achieve a median speed of 135.36 Mbps. This is still significantly behind the speeds offered by telecom carriers in South Korea.

The report also did a price comparison between networks of the US and South Korea. Data found that people in the US paid around 1.5 US Dollars per gigabyte, while South Koreans paid 2.3 US Dollars per gigabyte. While the number is higher, the networking speed difference between the two seems makes up for the price value overall. SpeedCheck also believes that price is not a constraint for US citizens if they can avail much faster networking speeds.

LG faces backlash for its plans on selling Apple iPhones in South Korea

Sean — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 09:36:38 +0000

We had recently reported on Apple seeking to sell its iPhones and other products from LG stores in South Korea. But now, it seems that the latter is facing backlash in the country from local smartphone distributors over market competition.

According to TheKoreaHerald report, the South Korean tech giant is facing backlash from local distributors and a private consensus based panel on shared growth, which stated that LG would be breaking its ‘word’ if it goes ahead with the new plan. Furthermore, the Korea Commission for Corporate Partnership added that the company’s pact with the commission in signed in 2019 that had LG would work to achieve co-prosperity with smaller firms in the industry.

The company had just recently announced that it would be shutting down its smartphone unit. It was also reportedly planning on selling iPhones and other Apple products from its official retail stores in South Korea. But this plan has brought up criticism from the Korea Mobile Distributor Association as well, which is an agency that represents interests of domestic phone distributors.

Now, the organization has sent a letter to the Korea Commission Corporate Partnership and has asked the body to intervene. Back in 2018, LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics had agreed to limit the sale of smartphones from their stores to the ones of their own brand, to prevent competition with smaller phone distributors. An official from the commission added that “LG’s withdrawal of the smartphone business has become an unexpected change to consider. Both sides will need to coordinate and come up with a new agreement on the issue.”

South Korea unveils $193 million five year project for 6G development

Sean — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 11:56:31 +0000

South Korean has just unveiled its five year project for the development of core technologies for 6G telecommunications technology. This plan will have the government invest 220 billion won (roughly 193 million US Dollars).

According to an AjuDaily report, South Korea is stepping up its efforts for the joint research and cooperation with the United States of America. The nation is aiming on achieving the world’s first commercialization of 6G mobile telecommunications by the year 2028. This investment was announced earlier today (23rd June 2021) at a 6G strategy meeting that was attended by experts, company officials, and government officials as well.

Science and ICT Minister Lim Hye-sook stated in the conference that “As the next-generation mobile network is the foundation of digital innovation, we should play a bold and challenging role together to lead the international market in the 6th generation era based on our experience and know-how in the network field.” The report also added that a 6G network can only be commercialized when a high performance network on the ground and satellite communication are combined.

Furthermore, researchers have also called for the early development of 6G related tech while companies have tied up with research bodies to secure core 6G technologies as well. The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) stated that it is working on the terahertz (THz) frequency band that could potentially provide a way to meet 6G requirements of terabits per second data transfer rate.

Apple seeks to sell its products from LG stores in South Korea: Report

Sean — Thu, 17 Jun 2021 09:42:20 +0000

Apple is apparently planning on forming a new partnership with LG. This cooperation would have the former sell its products from the latter’s physical retail stores in South Korea.

According to a BusinessKorea report (Via MacRumors), the Cupertino based giant seeks to sell its iPhones, iPads, smartwatches, and more from the South Korean electronics maker’s stores in its home country. This would have it sell products from more than 400 retail “LG Best Shops” in the country. Notably, this news arrives after LG recently announced that it is shutting its smartphone business. In other words, Apple might be aiming to fill up the retail space that was previously used by LG to market its handsets.

This would mean that the iPhone maker could expand its presence in the region, considering its retail business is smaller than LG in comparison. Reportedly, the two companies are discussing the establishment of a separate corner for Apple within its stores. This corner would also be run by the company’s own employees or have LG Best Shop employees sell Apple products after LG Electronics acquires the right to sell its gadgets.

The report further added that both brands are currently at a disagreement over the sale of Mac computers. This disagreement is due to LG’s plans of selling its own “Gram” laptops, so selling Mac computers in its stores would put LG at a clear disadvantage. Thus, it is more likely that both firms agree on only selling iPhones, iPads, and its wearables. An LG spokesperson also told Business Korea that “nothing has been decided yet” and that the company is “exploring all possibilities.”

Samsung and Apple launches LG smartphone trade-in program in South Korea

Jeet — Fri, 28 May 2021 05:52:05 +0000

Last month, South Korea-based LG confirmed that it is exiting the smartphone business and is shutting down its mobile phone division. The firm is now planning to focus on other areas such as electric vehicle components, connected devices, smart homes, robotics, artificial intelligence, and business-to-business solutions, as well as platforms and services.

In a bid to fill the gap of LG smartphones in the company’s home market, leading smartphone brands like Samsung and Apple have launched a trade-in program for LG phone users in the country, reports ZDNet.

As a part of the new trade-in program, the companies are willing to pay the trade-in value of the phone as well as an additional 150,000 won, which is around $135, for LG smartphone users who exchange their phones for a Samsung Galaxy series smart phones or Apple iPhone lineup.

Apple will be running its trade-in program up to 25th September and the users of 4G and 5G LG smartphones can exchange them for an iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Mini. But the program is only available in retail stores run by telecom companies are not through the Apple Store or Apple resellers.

On the other hand, Samsung will be running its program until the end of June, and users of LG smartphones can exchange their devices for the Galaxy S21 series or the Galaxy Note 20 series, along with the Galaxy Z Flip 5G and Galaxy Z Fold 2.

Currently, Samsung holds about 65 percent of the smartphone market share in South Korea while Apple holds around 20 percent. LG, which has now exited the market, controlled about 13 percent of the market.

Even though LG is out of the mobile phone business, the company has confirmed that it will push up to three versions of Android updates for all its premium smartphones. The three updates will start counting from when the phone was released.

Samsung’s Lee family to pay more than $10.8 billion inheritance tax

Jeet — Wed, 28 Apr 2021 05:17:06 +0000

The family of Lee Kun-hee, Chairman of Samsung Electronics, revealed that they will pay more than 12 trillion won (approximately $10.8 billion) in inheritance taxes for the estate and donate the vast private art collection to state curators.

According to the report from Reuters, the tax won’t be paid in a single instance. The family said that they are planning to pay the tax bill over a period of five years in a total of six installments, starting this month.

Lee Kun-hee, former Samsung Chairman

The family has also announced that it will donate 1 trillion won to improve public healthcare in the country, including 500 billion won to build South Korea’s first specialist hospital for infectious diseases.

For those who are unaware, Lee died on 25th October, leaving an estate valued at around 26 trillion won. He is credited with transforming Samsung into one of the world’s largest companies and a leader in smartphones as well as the memory chip market.

Everyone’s eyes were on the handling of the inheritance tax bill by the Lee family which is the largest-ever in Korea and globally. There’s a possibility of dilution of the family’s controlling stake in Samsung depending on how it is handled.

People were calling for Lee’s $1.76 billion art collection to stay in South Korea as reports suggested that the family planned to make a large donation to make reparations for Lee’s conviction on tax evasion and embezzlement charges over a decade ago.

Interestingly, the family has revealed how the stake in Samsung is divided. Now, investors will need to wait for regulatory filings to discover changes in shareholdings by Lee’s son and Samsung Electronics vice chairman Jay Y. Lee or other family members.

Last week, it was reported that the family had been discussing using shares in affiliated companies as collateral for personal loans to pay part of the tax bill to avoid the sale of their Samsung holdings.

South Korea Chip Material market worth $10.5 billion in 2022

Sean — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 09:51:58 +0000

The global semiconductor material market was worth 55.3 billion US Dollars last year and is expected to grow by about 6 percent this year, reaching 58.7 billion US Dollars. Now, a new SEMI report has found that South Korea alone would account for 10.5 billion US Dollars by the year 2022.

According to TheElec report, the materials market has been seeing a steady growth every year, especially in South Korea, which accounted for 9.23 billion US Dollars back in 2020. majority of the overall growth of the semiconductor materials market is from Taiwan, China, and South Korea. While the country was third in market size after Taiwan and China, it is still a major region considering the high investments being made by Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.

Both firms spend large sums on semiconductor materials, which is apparently the largest expenditure across the globe. Furthermore, SEMI is also gearing up to host SMC Korea 2021 from May 12 to May 18 in South Korea. The event will be fully online and will be streamed live and on demand sessions that will cover topics from extreme ultraviolet (EUV), packaging to foundry. This event will also include a lot of companies in the semiconductor industry will attend this event.

South Korean government urged to offer tax reduction by local chip industry

Sean — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 10:09:28 +0000

The Korea Semiconductor Industry Association has asked the South Korean government to pass new laws that would benefit the chip industry. The organization has essentially asked for the government’s support through new regulations.

According to TheElec report, the association, in an open letter, stated that the US was planning on offering up to 40 percent tax reduction for semiconductor equipment expenditure, which is similar to the European Unions plans of offering a 67 trillion won project to help boost its local semiconductor production. In other words, the South Korean chip industry is basically asking for similar incentives to keep up with the foreign competition.

In 2020, the local semiconductor in South Korea accounted for an 18.4 percent market share, which was second only to the US. In terms of memory semiconductors, the region accounted for 56.9 percent of the market share, leading the global market. Semiconductor export accounted for 19.4 percent of South Korea’s total, with the equipment spending in chips locally accounting for over 40 percent of the total in the manufacturing sector overall.

In simpler terms, the industry is one of the pillar’s of South Korea’s economy, although, it is facing various challenges and hurdles ahead. Thus, the KSIA urged the government to offer up to 50 percent tax reduction in related research, development, and equipment spending. Additionally, chip based firms should also get support in approval to build new faculties, water supply, and other infrastructures as well, while universities in Seoul should open more majors related to semiconductors to recruit local talents, as per the organization.

Samsung Galaxy S21 series sales top 1 million units in South Korea

Jeet — Mon, 29 Mar 2021 06:03:32 +0000

The world’s leading smartphone manufacturer, Samsung Electronics, has announced that the domestic sales of the company’s new flagship smartphone lineup — the Galaxy S21 series, has surpassed the 1 million units mark last week.

As per the claims by Samsung, the Galaxy S21 series, which was released on 29th January, has managed to achieve this milestone in 57 days of its launch. This is about one month faster than its predecessor.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

While the pace of sales for the new lineup seems faster than its predecessor, it is still slower than the S10 series launched in the year 2019, which topped the 1 million mark for its units in just 47 days.

Samsung usually announces its new S-series flagship smartphones around mid-February every year but this time, the company launched the Samsung Galaxy S21 series in the month of January, that too with comparatively lower price tags.

In South Korea, the S21 was priced at 999,900 won (~$880), which is cheaper than the low-end S20 last year priced at 1.24 million won. This has also helped the company boost its sales numbers within this time frame.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 accounted for 52 percent of the total S21-series sales, followed by the Galaxy S21 Ultra with 27 percent and Galaxy S21 Plus with 21 percent. The lineup accounted for 20 percent of the company’s total sales in South Korea and 60 percent of them were purchased online.

India mulls cyptocurrency ban, while South Korean crypto exchanges surpass local stock market

Sean — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 06:51:31 +0000

India is apparently considering placing a ban on cryptocurrencies, which would involve fining people involved in trading or even holding any digital assets. Meanwhile, the South Korean crypto exchanges have surpassed the stock market of the country.

According to a Reuters report, the Indian government is proposing passing a new law that will ban cryptocurrencies and even fine crypto miners, as per a government official. Although this could be a major potential blow to million of investors as well. At the moment, the bill will be one of the world’s strictest policies against cryptocurrencies, which would involve criminalizing possession, issuance, mining, trading, and transferring cypto assets as well.

This arrives as the government seeks to ban private virtual currencies in favor of building a framework for an official digital currency. However, investors recently raised concerns and hoped that the authorities might ease up on the booming market. But, the new bill will enable cryptocurrency owners up to six months to liquidate all their assets. After this period, the government will start levying penalties, as per the government official. If the ban goes live, India will be the first major economy to make holding cryptocurrency illegal.

On the other hand, the colume of transactions in the South Korean digital currency market briefly overtook the daily average transactions of the nation’s stock market, as per a CoinTelegraph report. The combined crypto exchanges was valued at 14.6 billion US Dollars on Sunday, higher than the rough 14.5 billion US Dollars value of the Korea Composite Stock Price Index. In other words, this shows a stark contrast between the the two nations.

Samsung offers a 3 day trial for its foldable smartphones in South Korea

Sean — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 08:16:25 +0000

Earlier this week, Samsung Electronics announced that it will run a three day free trial period program for its foldable smartphone models. This offer will be available in the company’s home country, South Korea.

According to TheElec report, the new program will be a part of Galaxy To Go service and will lend foldable handsets like the Galaxy Z Fold 2 and Galaxy Z Flip 5G to its customers. The South Korean tech giant aims to run the free trial period till 30th of April 2021. Till then, consumers can request the service and rent the devices at one of the 63 physical stores that the company runs in the country.

Furthermore, the smartphone maker will also have a pop up message appear to those who borrow these foldable devices that will explain their features as well. The models being given away for the trial period will also have features added via the recent One UI 3.1 update. The new update arrives last month along with the company’s 2021 flagship, the Samsung Galaxy S21 series of smartphones.

The move from the company is likely to boost the sales of its foldable handsets in the local market. While Samsung does hold a dominating position in the foldable smartphone market, it is expected that more brands will soon compete in this segment as well. So, the move is likely to expand awareness and demand for its devices in the market.

Samsung: The Galaxy S21 is selling 30% more in South Korea

Sean — Thu, 11 Feb 2021 07:30:51 +0000

Earlier this week, Samsung Electronics stated that its Galaxy S21 series of flagship smartphones were selling 30 percent higher in comparison to its predecessor, the Galaxy S20, in South Korea.

Samsung Galaxy S21 vs S21 Ultra

The South Korea based tech giant made the statement by comparing the sales within the first eleven days of both series’ launch. Furthermore, the base Galaxy S21 accounted for 40 percent of the entire sales within the series, while the Galaxy S21 Ultra accounted for 36 percent. Lastly, the Galaxy S21 Plus accounted for just 24 percent of all sales from the series, as per TheElec report.

The company also stated that the phantom black was the most popular color for the Galaxy S21 Ultra, while the phantom violet color variant was the most popular for the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus. Out of the overall sales, direct purchases accounted for 30 percent of the sales, which was double that for the Galaxy S20. Additionally, 60 percent of all Galaxy S21 series model were bought online in direct purchases.

Similarly, the Galaxy Buds Pro truly wireless earbuds from the company also saw sales that were double that of its predecessor during this period. Samsung added that it expected the demand to spike as well from March to April this year, due to customers that are nearing the end of their two year contracts for their current Galaxy S flagship smartphones. In other words, the current premium grade handset from the popular brand is performing noticeably better in its home market, when compared to its previous iteration.

Samsung customers in South Korea can now rent Galaxy S21 and win free prizes

Sean — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 09:10:17 +0000

Customers in South Korea can now rent a Samsung Galaxy S21. The Galaxy To Go service lets people rent the device for three days, to help give prospective buyers a chance to consider purchasing the new flagship device.

The new service is likely a promotional move from the South Korean tech giant to boost the sales of its latest premium grade flagship handset. Furthermore, after the three day trial period, customers are even given free gifts and an opportunity to win even bigger prizes through the company’s lottery system. While the Galaxy To Go isn’t exactly a new service in the company’s home market, it has become more available in terms of location with the launch of the Galaxy S21 series, as per a SamMobile report.

At the moment, Samsung has opened over 200 Samsung Digital Plazas across the county to allows its customers to rent the new flagship device. In comparison, the number of these locations was just a third in size in the recent past. The Galaxy S21 that are rented out are pre loaded with a few extra apps as well. This includes the popular mobile game title, League of Legends: Wild Rift.

Notably, customers are also given the option to offer their feedback regarding the new device and even ask questions about the smartphone through a one on one broadcast or direct messaging with a Samsung representative. Talking about the prices, renting a Galaxy S21 can have customers win accessories like the Wireless Charger Duo Pad, which typically costs around 60 US Dollars or even up to a Galaxy Book Flex 2, Galaxy Tab S7+, and even accommodation vouchers at The Shilla Seoul 5-star hotel. This service will be available to users until 14th March 2021.

The post Samsung customers in South Korea can now rent Galaxy S21 and win free prizes appeared first on Gizmochina.

Samsung Heir Lee Jae Yong faces prison over bribery case

Sean — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 11:31:08 +0000

Samsung heir Lee Jae Yong has been sentenced to two years and six months in prison over a bribery scandal. The news arrives after a high court in South Korea passed the judgment over the company’s head.

According to a BBC report, the bribery case is a retrial of a bribery case, which even involved the country’s previous President, Park Geun-hye, who also faced prison term for bribery and corruption charges. For those unaware, Lee has been the head of Samsung Electronics since 2014, although, the recent ruling will likely have impacts on his current role in the South Korean tech giant. Notably, the news of the prison term on Lee Jae Yong caused the company’s shares to plummet by more than 4 percent.

Furthermore, the prison sentence will temporarily have Lee be separated from being involved in any decision making process involving him in Samsung. Kim Dae-jong, a business professor at Sejong University, told news agency AFP that “It’s really a huge blow and a big crisis for Samsung.” Back in 2014, Lee had assumed the leadership of the company after his father Lee Kun-hee was forced to step down over health related issues.

As per the court’s ruling, Lee “actively provided bribes and implicitly asked the president to use her power to help his smooth succession” as the head of Samsung. “It is very unfortunate that Samsung, the country’s top company and proud global innovator, is repeatedly involved in crimes whenever there is a change in political power.” The court found that Lee is responsible for 8.6 billion won (roughly 7.8 million US Dollars) worth of bribery, embezzlement, and concealment of criminal proceeds.

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Samsung Galaxy Book Flex 2 powered by 11th-gen Intel processor goes official

Jeet — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 06:44:23 +0000

Earlier this year, in May, Samsung had launched its Galaxy Book Flex 2-in-1 laptop, and recently, in September, the company released Galaxy Book Flex 5G in the market. Now, a successor of the original Galaxy Book has been launched.

Samsung has today launched the Galaxy Book Flex 2 in South Korea. The device has the same 2-in-1 design with a 360-degree rotatable screen. It also comes with support for the Smart S Pen stylus.

It comes in two options for the display size — 13.3-inch and 15.6-inch, offering a QLED Full HD+ touch screen panel. Under the hood, the laptop is powered by the latest 11th-generation Intel Core i5 or Core i7 processor.

The 13.3-inch model packs Intel Iris Xe graphics while the 15.6-inch model comes with NVIDIA MC450 GPU for handling the graphical tasks. It can be configured with up to 16GB LPDDR4X RAM and up to 1TB SSD for storage.

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There are two 5W AKG stereo speakers and the device also comes with support for fingerprint recognition. It also features a 13MP camera which should come in handy, especially during these times when people are working from home and relying on webcams to attend meetings and collaborate with colleagues.

The device is powered by a 69.7Wh battery. The Samsung Galaxy Book Flex 2 comes in two color options — Black and Purple. It’s pricing starts at 1.845 million yuan (approximately $1683) and goes up to 2.83 million yuan (~$2581).

Along with this, the company has also launched the Galaxy Flex 2 5G, which as the name indicates, comes with built-in support for 5G connectivity. This model was announced in September but the company had not revealed its pricing. It will be offered in just Royal Silver color, for a price of 2.725 million won which roughly converts to $2,468.

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USA could pressure South Korea to ban Huawei from its 5G network

Jeet — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 07:52:29 +0000

In the ongoing trade war between the United States and China, several companies have already bowed down to the pressure from the U.S. to ban Huawei from their 5G infrastructure development. Now, it seems that Korea could be added to the list soon.

As per a report coming from Korea, a U.S. Congress committee has submitted a new bill that urges Pentagon to consider mobile security risks posed by the Chinese tech companies when it deploys troops and weapons overseas.

The bill named the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, has been approved by the Senate Armed Services Committees and will soon be put on the vote. If passed, it could be used to force host countries to ban Huawei or other companies that the United States deems as a security risk.

Given that Korea heavily relies on heavily armed U.S. troops for its defense, it could be forced to ban Huawei. This is because LG UPlus, one of the mobile network operator in Korea, is using 5G equipment from Huawei.

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LG Uplus has been using Huawei equipment in its network since 2013, which now accounts for over 30 percent of its total infrastructure. While the U.S. government has asked LG Uplus to stop using equipment from the Chinese giant but the company maintains that it’s impossible to do so given the costs involved.

However, the company has said that it is using Ericsson’s equipment in Pyeongtaek and Uijeongbu, where U.S. military bases are located, and their vicinities. On the other hand, Korea says that it is up to the network operator to determine which equipment to use.

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